Legal Professions and Studies at Roger Williams University

Roger Williams University's Legal Professions program produces some of the strongest early earnings in the country for this degree—ranking in the 88th percentile nationally—but the small sample size (fewer than 30 graduates) means these results could look quite different for your child's cohort. At $40,424 in first-year earnings, graduates earn more than typical peers nationwide ($37,766), and the trajectory improves to $48,253 by year four. The $27,000 median debt sits right at the national average, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67.

The challenge is that this is Rhode Island's only bachelor's program in Legal Professions, making it impossible to compare against in-state alternatives. The strong national ranking suggests the program prepares students well, though it's worth understanding that many Legal Professions graduates work as paralegals or in legal support roles rather than as attorneys. The 19% earnings growth over four years indicates career advancement potential, but you'll want to confirm your child's specific career goals align with where these graduates actually land.

Given the limited sample size and lack of comparable Rhode Island programs, schedule a call with the department to ask about job placement specifics and whether recent cohorts mirror these outcomes. If your child is set on legal work but unsure about law school, this could be a financially sensible starting point—just verify the career paths before committing.